Bacteria can share vital nutrients if their bacterial neighbors happen to have a surplus. Scientists have now determined that this sharing is accomplished not through diffusion of those nutrients into the surrounding environment, but rather via nanotubes that physically link the insides of two bacterial cells together.»3/02/15 4:30pm 3/02/15 4:30pm

Decades ago, the Morning Glory pool at Yellowstone National Park was a gorgeous deep blue. But because tourists have thrown coins, rocks, and trash into it for years, the spring has now turned into a sickly yellowish green. Now, a new optics study is shedding light on the pool's unfortunate change of color. »2/11/15 1:20pm 2/11/15 1:20pm

Scientists from UCLA have discovered a deep-sea microorganism that's the same today as it was two billion years ago. It's an observation that actually bolsters Darwin's theory of natural selection, while offering the most extreme example of evolution's "null hypothesis."»2/03/15 6:30am 2/03/15 6:30am

As we venture deeper into the era of GMOs and synthetic life, it's critical that we develop safeguards to prevent the contamination of natural systems. To that end, researchers have devised a clever solution to ensure this never happens – at least in GM bacteria. »1/22/15 4:00pm 1/22/15 4:00pm

Mosquitoes are drawn to the scent of limburger cheese and its derivatives. They love it so much that it can even lure them away from tasty human targets. Why? For a reason you don't want to know if you plan to eat limburger cheese ever again. »1/09/15 11:30am 1/09/15 11:30am

The antioxidant resveratrol, which is found in red wine and other foods like nuts and soy, is known for its ability to decrease incidence of heart disease and other illnesses, leading some to call it the "elixir of youth." Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute now have an explanation for how it works. »12/23/14 12:20pm 12/23/14 12:20pm

Not all spoiled food is created equal. Most everyone has an aversion to rotten foods. After all, they taste awful. But what about the foods we spoil intentionally? What separates rancid meet, for example, from moldy cheese, or bacteria-laden Salami? »12/21/14 1:00pm 12/21/14 1:00pm

When you check into a hospital your risk of infection rises, and research suggests a major source for these infections are the safety railings on hospital beds. Researchers in Santiago Chile think they have a solution: Replace the usual bedrails with copper ones, which have anti-microbial properties. »12/18/14 5:30pm 12/18/14 5:30pm

The results of a new study suggest forensic scientists could one day use the microbial signature of people's privates to identify sexual offenders. Think of it as a musty, microscopic, x-rated fingerprint. »12/17/14 1:40pm 12/17/14 1:40pm

It's generally agreed that life on this planet would not be possible if it weren't for microbes. In a fascinating thought experiment, a pair of biologists scrutinized this assumption to find out. As their paper makes clear, a microbe-free world would be a strange place, indeed. »12/17/14 9:40am 12/17/14 9:40am

If you're about to fly somewhere for Thanksgiving, you're probably dreading the possibility that you'll catch a bug along the way, and with good reason: Many people come down with something nasty in the days following an airplane flight. Why does this happen, and how can you keep yourself from getting sick?»11/21/14 12:34pm 11/21/14 12:34pm

Couples who give each other intimate kisses several times a day share similar communities of saliva-dwelling oral bacteria. Romantic, right? But don't panic — many of these bacteria are essential for the digestion of food, synthesizing nutrients, and preventing disease. »11/17/14 3:55pm 11/17/14 3:55pm

The most common viruses in your body are bacteria-infecting viruses called bacteriophages – and the most common bacteriophage of all might be the newly-discovered crAssphage. crAssphage! »7/25/14 2:45pm 7/25/14 2:45pm

Microbiologists have learned that certain strains of bacteria are capable of using energy in its purest form by eating and breathing electrons. It's a discovery that demonstrates an entirely new mode of life on Earth — and possibly beyond. »7/17/14 8:40am 7/17/14 8:40am

From a nail-bitingly tense chase sequence all the way to a seemingly impossible run down an all too narrow alleyway, this video of a ridiculously-dogged white blood cell in hot pursuit of some fleeing bacteria is a master class in suspense done right. »6/17/14 4:20pm 6/17/14 4:20pm